View Full Version : When does ice start to form on the lakes?
11-10-2009, 09:56 PM
I was reviewing some data from the MN DNR on inland lake ice fatalities since 1978. The earliest that someone went through the ice and died was on November 8 or so.
When, typically, does ice start to form on the the lakes in the Northwoods? I imagine it's probably closer to mid-November?
11-10-2009, 11:22 PM
generally in the last 10 days of November in Northern Wisconsin
11-11-2009, 12:16 AM
same for the western and nothern up generally ice starts to stay on the smaller inland lakes around the 20th of november but probaly arent safe to go out on till the st 1st week of december and the biggest lakes i would wait till 2 or 3rd week of december and lake superior i would never go out expect maybe late january early febuary
11-11-2009, 06:58 AM
I donít think there is a normal time. We have seen years when there was enough ice on the lakes to walk on by the 10th of November and by the end of November the lakes were wide open again. There have been years when people were driving to their fish houses on Thanksgiving Day and the following year they could not get on the ice with cars to after New Years. On average I would guess that in the Northern parts of MN, WI, MI it would usually be save to ride sled on it the third week of December. Of course if we get a bunch of snow during the first few weeks of December thatís a whole other story.
11-11-2009, 11:23 AM
oldguy is correct all over the place. No ice on small lakes yet in Northern WI forget larger lakes not even a skim on flowages. The very warm Nov will cause a late freeze. JD so far right on but maybe Dec will bring in colder weather. Wait & see for now.
11-12-2009, 02:48 PM
but im saying most year for the western and nother u.p the smaller inland lakes are usually safe to be out ice fishing 1st of december wich takes 2-4 inches of ice
11-13-2009, 02:56 PM
When it gets cold? ;) Sorry I have been waiting 3 days to post that, today I just cant pass it up
11-16-2009, 10:41 AM
The way this year is going-we'll be using the boats in Dec-Jan. Not much cold forecasted heading into December.
11-16-2009, 01:48 PM
Is 32 degrees when water freezes? Or ice thaws? mmmmmmm
32deg's plus 144btu's is freezing.
take the 144btu's away you have water.
11-16-2009, 04:32 PM
Starting to form skim ice at night, then thaws during the sunny warm days. Will not take long once it stays cold during the day.
11-16-2009, 09:11 PM
Yep skimmed last night gone today so that water is coooooooold.
11-16-2009, 09:27 PM
Yes it's cold....Weekend before last we went up to camp to rake leaves and I went in Saturday night out of the Sauna. VERY refreshing. In fact I got out so fast not even sure I actually really got cooled off from the Sauna. http://www.johndee.com/discuss/clipart/happy.gif
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